Valentina Matvienko travelled to Brasilia to attend the inauguration of the President of Brazil.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko met with President-elect of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during her working visit to Brasilia. She represented the Russian delegation at his inauguration.
Ms Matvienko conveyed to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a message from President of Russia Vladimir Putin and confirmed that he is invited to visit Moscow.
The Speaker said the conversation was substantive and of mutual interest, “We discussed the entire range of bilateral relations.”
Valentina Matvienko noted that during Mr da Silva’s previous presidency, Russia and Brazil developed constructive relations and upgraded them to strategic partnership. “We remember that Lula da Silva was part of the creation of BRICS – a prestigious integration association which many countries are now striving to join,” she said.
Ms Matvienko considers it important that during the meeting, they confirmed their willingness to “reset” bilateral relations by building up trade and economic cooperation and interaction in science, technology and environmental protection.
She said the President of Brazil supported the idea of immediately reinitiating the High-Level Commission, which has not met for several years. It is co-chaired by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin for Russia, and by the vice-president of Brazil.
Valentina Matvienko noted that the need to invigorate the work of the Russia-Brazil Business Council was also discussed at the meeting. The two countries are rapidly developing their trade and economic relations. “This year, we expect to reach about $9 billion in trade. Russia has been and remains one of Brazil’s largest suppliers of mineral fertilisers, important for the development of its agro-industrial sector. We reaffirmed our intention to continue supplying Brazil with the fertilisers it needs,” she told journalists after the meeting.
The Federation Council Speaker added that Russia and Brazil have the same vision of the world, that is, multi-polar and fair. “We have many opportunities for developing cooperation and coordinating actions in the UN and other international venues,” she said.
Valentina Matvienko noted that the President of Brazil advocated the expansion of cooperation in BRICS as a powerful pole in a multi-polar world.
Ms Matvienko emphasised that Russia considers Brazil a reliable, important and time-tested partner. She recalled that diplomatic relations were established five years after Brazil became independent in 1822. “Our bilateral relations are immune to opportunistic approaches. Brazil pursues an independent foreign policy and does not give in to outside pressure. It maintains its sovereignty and upholds its national interests,” she said.
The meeting was attended by Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev.